Stringed musical instrument



Dec. 1, 1931. ER v 1,834,695

STRINGED MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 28, 1931 Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITEDYSTATES RICHARD GEARTNER, or ivrouL'roiv, TEXAS sr-niiveni) MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed January 28,1931; Serial No. 511,667.

This invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments and the main ob ect of the invention 1s to provide a means or fingering device whereby each string may i be individually tightenedor loosened to produce a note of any desired'pitch when the string is picked or whereby any two or more strings may be simultaneously tightened or loosened to the required degree for playing chords.

Another object is to provide a fingering device of the above character in a simple and ei'licient form and which is readily operable by the fingers of one'hand.

lViththese and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the fingering .de-

vice applied to a stringed musical instru-,

ment. r

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the end portion of the neck of the instrument showing the invention applied thereto.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section along the line 33 in Figure 2.

Figure 4; is an enlarged section along the line 4 4. in Figure 2 but showing a modified form of the fingering device.

of the bolt element of the fingering device shown in Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the reference character A designates the body, B the neck and C the strings of a conventional stringed instrument, the latter being here shown as four in number and provided withthe usual tightening pegs or keyD set in the headpiece E.

In accordance with my invention a plurality of apertures 1 are bored through-the neck B, there being one aperture immediately beneath each of the strings C and-as shown these apertures are spaced longitudinally or arranged in stepped or staggered relationship. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, nuts 2 are set in the rear or under side ofthe neck C with their internally Figure 5 isa detached detail in elevation threaded bores 3 in alignment and registry.

with theaforesaid apertures 1 and the nuts are considerably larger thanthese apertures and are secured against turning in the neck in any suitable manner as by screws 4 passed through the flanges 5 into the said ,neck. '65

Bolts 6 are provided and the same arethreaded at 7 adjacent one end for threaded engagement with the nuts 2, the said bolts being rotatably mounted in the apertures 1 and projecting therefrom beneath the strings C at '60 7 the forward or upper face ,of' the neck B.

, Eyes 8 are swiveled or journaled'in these forwardly extending, ends and are secured against axial displacementtherein as for instance by threading the shanks or stems of these eyes in the ends'of ,the bolts 6. as indi- 'ca ted at 8a in Figure 4. Arms 9 are secured rigidly in and radially extended-from the bolts 6 over the upper or forward face of the neck B and these arms in their normal posi- I tion'extend for a short distance longitudinally along the neck. Push rods 10 are pivotally attached at lOato the ends of the arms 9 and extend laterally therefrom beyondjthe'mar- I gin of the neck asshown. At their outer ends the arms 10 are formed into or providedwith finger rings'or eyesll. M i I A I the operation of the structure so far recited the strings C are threaded or passed through the eyes 8 on the bolts 6 andare then tightened to the :usual degree by the pegs or keys D,the said bolts 6 being unscrewed from the nuts 2 a sufficient distance topermit the free passage of thestrings through the eyes 8 in this tightening process aswillbe understood.' It will be noted that spaced frets or bridges 12 and 13 are provided on the neck B between which frets the bolts 6 are located and the stringsC pass over thesefrets in conventional manner. In playing the instrument i the fingersof one hand are inserted in the finstring G toward the neck between the "frets 12"' and 13 and results in 'atightening ofth'e stnng'whereby itspitch or tone is raised as will be readily understood. It will be apparent thanany one or all of the strings may be tightened or loosened to the desired degree by a proper inward or outward movement of the friction between the strin s and fret in the tightening and loosening of the former.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 of the drawings the bolts 6a are inserted through the apertures 1 with their threaded ends 7a extended from the forward or upper face of the neck B and are provided with diz'n'netrically enlarged heads 15 resting against the rear or under side of the neck. Internal- 1y threadedcaps or nuts 16 are threaded on the threaded ends 7a of the bolts (Se-and these caps have flanges 17 adapted to engage the upper or forward face of the neck B. The strings C pass diametrically through the caps 16 above the ends of the bolts 6a as shown. In this position the heads 15 and flanges 17 are spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the bolts and caps to rotate freely. Arms 9 and 10' are connected to the caps 16in a manner similar to the construction recited hereinbefore. It will be apparent that an inward'movement of the arms 10 in the manner hereinbefore set forth will rotate the bolts 6a and caps 16 and the strings C will. be twisted .or wound around the caps to some extent resulting in a tightening of the strings for the purpose set forth.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and readily operable fingering device by means of. which a stringed instrument may be conveniently played.

ile I have herein set forth certain preferred embodiments of my invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details so as best to construct a practical device for the purpose intended, not departing from the spiritof the invention and Within the scope of the ap pended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, in combination with a stringed musical instrument including a neck and strings, the said neck having a plurality of apertures adjacent the strings, nuts secured in the neck in registry with the said apertures, bolts threaded in the said nuts, eyes swiveled on the said bolts and encircling the said strings, arms extendedradial'ly from the bolts, push rods pivotally connected to theends 0f the arms,

and rings formed on the free ends of the said push rods.

2. In a device of the kind described, in combination with a stringed musical instrument including a neck and strings, the said neck having apertures adjacent the strings, bolts journaled in the apertures in the neck, caps threaded on the said bolts, the said strings passing diametrically through the said caps, arms radially extend from the caps, push rods pivoted by one end to the ends of the arms, and rings formed on the free ends of thepush rods.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RICHARD GEARTNER. 

